Industrial sweetpotato plant named ‘NCPUR06-020’

ABSTRACT

‘NCPUR06-020’ is a purple-fleshed sweetpotato with high levels of anthocyanin pigments in its storage roots. ‘NCPUR06-020’ was developed using conventional crossing and breeding methods, and it is intended for use in the natural colorant industry. The anthocyanins present in sweetpotatoes have a number of beneficial properties and they can be used for a wide range of purposes in the food processing and functional food industries.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the novel plant variety disclosed herein is Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Ipomoea batatas disclosed herein has been given the varietal denomination ‘NCPUR06-020’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

‘NCPUR06-020’ is a purple-fleshed sweetpotato with high levels of anthocyanin pigments in its storage roots. ‘NCPUR06-020’ was developed using conventional crossing and breeding methods. It is the first purple-fleshed variety in our industrial-type breeding populations to be released and it is intended for use in the natural colorant industry. Most colorants are synthetic and obtained from a wide variety of organic and inorganic sources. Natural and synthetic coloring additives are widely used in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries to enhance the appearance of products. There has been a recent trend to replace the use of synthetic colorants in food products with natural food colorants that have beneficial health properties and the natural colorant sector is increasing globally. The storage roots of purple-fleshed sweetpotatoes produce several purplish red anthocyanins in large quantities. Anthocyanins are an attractive source of natural colorants because they also possess many beneficial human health properties including antioxidative radical-scavanging abilities, anti-mutagenic, anti-hypertensive, anti-hyperglycemic and hepatoprotective properties.

Using conventional breeding techniques and a diverse array of germplasm, the sweetpotato breeding program developed a population of high pigment value, purple-fleshed sweetpotatoes. These varieties are suitable for anthocyanin extraction, and they are better than the current lines available in the US as they have increased color yields and better disease resistance compared to the existing purple-fleshed sweetpotatoes in the US.

‘NCPUR06-020’ is the first purple-fleshed sweetpotato variety to be released by the North Carolina State University sweetpotato breeding program. Several purple-fleshed sweetpotato varieties are currently grown and subjected to extraction in Japan and China. As with many other sweetpotato products, China is the largest producer of purple-fleshed sweetpotatoes. We believe there is a significant market for a “Made in the USA” purple-fleshed sweetpotato derived colorant and expect the ‘NCPUR06-020’ variety to be the first in a series of new purple-fleshed sweetpotatoes to be developed and released by NC State University sweetpotato breeding program for the natural colorant and functional foods sectors.

Lineage. The Ipomoea batatas ‘NCPUR06-020’ variety originated from a conventional cross between Ipomoea batatas breeding lines BM85-42 (the female parent; not patented) and NC414 (the male parent; patented as ‘Stokes Purple’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,976)). Botanical seed was harvested from this and other purple sweetpotato lines planted in our winter greenhouse-crossing block between September of 2005 and February of 2006. The breeding line BM85-42 is a white-fleshed biomass line from the USDA Vegetable Lab sweetpotato breeding program. The breeding line NC414 was a line provided to the program by a local farmer, which was subsequently patented and named ‘Stokes Purple’ (Sizemore et al. 2007). Botanical seed from the BM85-42×NC414 cross were planted in a greenhouse located in Raleigh, N.C. on Feb. 8, 2006. Seedlings with storage roots were cut and evaluated for flesh color with purple-fleshed selections being planted in Clinton, N.C. on May 9, 2006 to increase for multiple plant cuttings. Five plant cuttings were taken Jul. 5, 2006 and planted in Kinston, N.C. on Jul. 6, 2006. The variety ‘NCPUR06-020’ was selected from a five hill plot Oct. 23, 2006 because of its combination of exceptional features. ‘NCPUR06-020’ was increased, evaluated, and advanced as the variety ‘NCPUR06-020’, with “06” referring to the year in which it was selected, and “020” indicating that this was the 20th purple selection made by the breeding program in 2006. It has been propagated asexually since this time.

Asexual Reproduction. Since its selection, Ipomoea batatas ‘NCPUR06-020’ has been asexually reproduced at by vegetative propagation of vine cuttings and/or cuttings from root sprouts. Vegetative propagation was done in Clinton N.C. for increase and field evaluation and tissue culture micropropagation and tissue culture propagation was done in Raleigh, N.C. Successively, there have been six cycles of vegetative propagation, one cycle of tissue culture micropropagation, and multiple vegetative propagation cycles to increase the plant population.

Asexual reproduction of ‘NCPUR06-020’ using these methods has shown that the unique features of the new variety are stable and the plant reproduces true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Ipomoea batatas ‘NCPUR06-020’ is a purple-fleshed sweetpotato with high levels of anthocyanin pigments in its storage roots. ‘NCPUR06-020’ was developed using conventional crossing and breeding methods, and it is intended for use in the natural colorant industry. The anthocyanins present in sweetpotatoes have a number of beneficial properties and can be used for a wide range of purposes in the food processing and functional food industries.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The photographs in the drawings were made using conventional techniques and show the colors as true as reasonably possible by conventional photography. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors of the new Ipomoea batatas.

FIG. 1 is a color photograph of representative storage roots of ‘Covington’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,516) (upper left), ‘Okinawa’ (not patented) (upper right), ‘Stokes Purple’ (lower left) and ‘NCPUR-06-020’ (lower right).

FIG. 2 is a color picture of the abaxial and adaxial surface of representative leaves with petioles attached of ‘Covington’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,516) (upper left), ‘Okinawa’ (not patented) (upper right), ‘Stokes Purple’ (lower left) and ‘NCPUR-06-020’ (lower right).

FIG. 3 is a color picture of glasshouse grown 55 day old representative plants of ‘Covington’ (upper left), ‘Okinawa’ (upper right), ‘Stokes Purple’ (lower left) and ‘NCPUR-06-020’ (lower right).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of the botanical characteristics of the new and distinct variety of Ipomoea batatas plant known by the denomination ‘NCPUR-06-020’. All colors cited herein refer to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 1995, 4th edition) designations except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Botanical descriptors are based on those described by the International Potato Center (CIP), Asian Vegetable Research & Development Center (AVRDC), and International Board for Plant Genetic Resources (IBPGR) in Descriptors of Sweetpotato, Huaman, Z., ed., IBPGR, Rome, Italy (1991), ISBN 92-9043-204-7. Where specific dimensions, sizes, colors, and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable.

TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

-   Storage root characteristics and comparison with other Ipomoea     batatas varieties: The storage root descriptions provided below are     for sweetpotatoes harvested 149 days after planting, then cured for     1 week at 85 F., then stored at 58 F. for seven months. The storage     roots of ‘NCPUR06-020’ are round-elliptic to blocky in shape and     dark purple-fleshed (RHS Violet Group N83A to N86A) and they have a     dark purple skin color (RHS Greyed Purple Group N187A to N186B) that     is smooth to slightly flaky in texture (Table 2 and FIG. 1). The     storage roots of ‘NCPUR06-020’ are not similar in appearance to     ‘Covington’; the dominant variety produced in the US, which is an     orange-fleshed (RHS Orange Group 28B to 28C), smooth-skinned,     rose-colored (RHS Orange-Red Group 33D to 34D to Greyed Orange 170C     to 170 D to N170C to N171D), table-stock sweetpotato. Of the     purple-fleshed varieties currently produced in the U.S., both     ‘NCPUR06-020’ and ‘Stokes Purple’ have similar skin colors while     ‘Okinawa’, a variety from Hawaii, has a distinct cream to light     brown colored skin (RHS colors not determined). The most desirable     attribute of ‘NCPUR06-020’ is its dark purple flesh color, which is     the result of high levels of extractable anthocyanins. ‘NCPUR06-020’     possesses significantly higher levels of anthocyanins and they occur     in different ratios compared to ‘Stokes Purple’ (Tables 1 and 2, and     FIG. 1). In terms of anthocyanin production, ‘NCPUR06-020’ is one of     the highest anthocyanin producers in our breeding populations. The     average yield (kg/ha), percent dry matter and pigment content (mg/g     dry wt.) and total anthocyanin pigment yield (kg/ha) of     ‘NCPUR06-020’ in 6 yield trials during 2009-2011 were 49,656 kg/ha,     30% dry matter content, 3.83 mg/g dry wt, and 58 kg anthocyanins     produced per hectare compared with 43,976 kg/ha yield, 29% dry     matter content, and anthocyanin production of 1.46 mg/g dry wt and     19 kg/ha for ‘Stokes Purple’. Another important diagnostic trait for     sweetpotato is the dry matter content of its storage roots.     ‘NCPUR06-020’ storage roots average 30% dry matter content. ‘Stokes     Purple’ and ‘Okinawa’ average 29% and 26%, respectively, while the     orange-fleshed variety ‘Covington’ averages 19-20% (Table 1). -   Plant characteristics: To describe and compare the plant     characteristics of the reference varieties to ‘NCPUR06-020’ three     representative specimens of each variety were planted in six-inch     azalea pots in a glasshouse. After rooting, plants were treated with     200 ppm 20-10-20 fertilizer daily. Plant measurements were taken in     May 2012 from 55-day-old specimens. ‘NCPUR06-020’ has not been     observed under all possible environmental conditions; therefore, the     phenotype may vary under different environmental conditions such as     season, temperature, light intensity, day length, cultural     conditions, and the like, without any variance in the genotype.     -   -   Growth conditions.—‘NCPUR06-020’ has excellent vigor and a             moderate to rapid growth rate (FIG. 3). In locales with mild             winter conditions, ‘NCPUR06-020’ will grow perennially;             otherwise it is an annual plant. Similar to other cultivated             sweetpotatoes, wind or rain rarely causes much damage to             ‘NCPUR06-020’, but if damage does occur, the plant drops the             damaged leaves and grows new shoots at nodes where the             leaves were lost. Under low light levels in a greenhouse,             ‘NCPUR06-020’ can develop intumescence, which will remain on             the affected foliage, but will be outgrown with new foliage.         -   Aboveground structure and coloration.—FIG. 3 shows the shape             and coloration of a typical specimen of ‘NCPUR06-020’. Color             will vary somewhat due to temperature and nutrient stress.             Overall, this variety is a moderately spreading, semi-erect             herbaceous plant that has an average height of 15.4 cm and             an average area spread of 52.8 cm. The growth habit of this             plant is slightly upright with shoots growing outward.         -   Branching habit.—‘NCPUR06-020’ will produce about 4 lateral             branches coming off the stem, averaging about 34.0 cm long             with a diameter of about 0.4 cm.         -   Vegetative lateral shoots.—The number of lateral shoots             varies, but averages about 6 with several short secondary             shoots. Sparse pubescence can be observed on young tips.             Lateral branch length: about 14.6 cm. Diameter: about             0.4 cm. Internodes are intermediate with an average length             of about 9.8 cm.         -   Stem.—The stems of ‘NCPUR06-020’ are round and glabrous with             an outward, slightly undulating aspect and very strong             strength. Color: green (RHS 144A-B) with some purple spots             at nodes (RHS 59A).         -   Petiole.—Leaf petiole length varies with an average of about             9.8 cm. Diameter: about 0.25 cm. Color: green (RHS 144A-B)             with flush of purple (RHS 59A) at point of attachment to             leaf. The surface texture of the petiole is glaborous.         -   Foliage.—Leaves are alternate and tend to slightly spiral             around the stem. They are simple and deltoid to cordate with             an entire margin. Leaf shape is somewhat variable as is size             (see FIG. 2 and FIG. 3). Quantity: Heavily foliated, with             about 18 leaves per lateral branch. Mature leaf length:             about 11.1 cm. Mature leaf width: about 8.3 cm. The leaf tip             is acute. Both the upper and lower surface of the leaf has a             glabrous texture and a matte finish with slight pubescence.             Both the upper and lower surface of the immature leaves have             slight pubescence on the upper surface. Mature leaf color:             Green (RHS 137A-B) upper surface, green (RHS 137C) lower             surface. Immature leaf color: Green (RHS 137D, 138A) upper             surface, green (RHS 138B) lower surface. There is slight             purple (RHS 59C) coloration where the leaf meets the petiole             (FIG. 2). Venation is pinnate-arcuate. Color: Mature             venation color: Green (RHS 144A) upper surface, green (RHS             145B) lower surface with secondary purple (RHS 59B) at             petiole junction. Immature venation color: Green (RHS 144B)             upper surface, green (RHS 145C) lower surface with secondary             purple (RHS 59C) at petiole junction and leaf margin.         -   Flowers.—‘NCPUR06-020’ flowers sporadically throughout the             season in response to a variety of stressful conditions             (e.g., drought, nutrient stress, cloudy weather). Flowering             is enhanced by short day lengths (<12 hours), but the             precise photoperiod for flower induction is currently             unknown. The inflorescence is generally a cyme in which             there is one solitary peduncle. Peduncles (RHS 143A-B,             59A-B) are green with purple spots at the base, averaging             38.6 mm long from mature leaf axils with an average diameter             of 4.1 mm. The surface texture of the peduncle is slightly             pubescent. Usually buds of the first and second order are             developed, but often, single flowers are produced. Buds (RHS             152D-151D, N77D) are light green with slight light lavender             at the tip, and around 27.4 mm in length and 7.7 mm in             diameter 24 hours before opening. Bud shape is elliptic to             slightly lanceolate. The corolla is composed of five fused             petals that form a funnel with a rounded to slightly             pentagonal limb. Corolla width: ˜49.4 mm, corolla length:             ˜52.1 mm. The corolla has slight to no fragrance. The limb             color is light lavender, while the outer throat color is             light lavender and the inner throat color is purple. Inner             limb color: RHS 76B-C, Outer limb color: RHS 76A-D, Inner             throat color: RHS 77A-B, Outer throat color: RHS 76B-D).             There are five sepals, with an average length of 9.4 mm and             width of 4.9 mm. The sepals have an obovate to elliptic             shape with an obtuse apex and are light green in color with             slight purple spots. Outer sepal color: RHS N144A-144A, 59A,             Inner sepal color: RHS N144A-144A. Each flower has one             pistil with a cream-colored style (RHS 155B). The stigma is             cream colored (RHS 155D) and the style averages about 1 mm             wide and 18.3 mm long. The stigma is at the same height to             slightly inserted relative to the stamens. The ovary is             light yellow (RHS 1D) and superior with two locules that             contain one or two ovules. At the base of the ovary there             are orange basal glands (RHS N163C) containing nectar             continuing halfway up the ovary. There are five cream             colored anthers (RHS 155B) that are approximately 3.2 mm             long. There are five cream fading to purple (RHS 155A, 77B)             colored stamens averaging 14.2 mm in length. Pollen (RHS             155B) is moderate. True seed can be obtained via compatible             crosses. There is some variation in flower size and color,             depending on the environmental conditions.         -   Disease resistance or pest             resistance/susceptibility.—‘NCPUR06-020’ is susceptible to             silverleaf whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci) and two spotted             spidermites (Tetranychus urticue) in a greenhouse             environment. Based on multiyear disease evaluations using             standardized greenhouse and field screening methods as well             as field-based observations of the disease reaction of             ‘NCPUR06-020’ to the most important pathogens of sweetpotato             in North Carolina, ‘NCPUR06-020’ is moderately resistant to             Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum Schlect. F. sp. batatas             (Wollenw.) Snyd. & Hans.), susceptible to Streptomyces soil             rot (Streptomyces ipomoeae (Person & W. J. Martin) Waksman &             Henrici) and moderately susceptible to southern root knot             nematode, Melodogyne incognita (Kofoid & White). -   Plant production characteristics:

The sprout production of ‘NCPUR06-020’ on plant beds prior to cutting and transplanting in the field is very good with transplant survival in the field being good to excellent.

REFERENCES CITED

Huaman, Z., (ed.). 1991. Descriptors for Sweet Potato. International Potato Center (CIP), Asian Vegetable Research & Development Center (AVRDC), and International Board for Plant Genetic Resources (IBPGR). Rome, Italy. ISBN 92-9043-204-7

Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 4^(th) Ed. 2001. The Royal Horticultural Society, 80 Vincent Square, London, England.

Sizemore, M. E., R. L. Slate, and D. A. Priddy, Jr. 2007. Sweetpotato plant named ‘Stokes Purple’. U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,976 P2, Sep. 4, 2007. 6 pp.

TABLE 1 Average yield, percent dry matter content and anthocyanin production of ‘NCPUR06-020’ and ‘Stokes Purple’ in six yield trials conducted during 2009-2011 in NC. Total Percent Anthocyanin Anthocyanin yield* dry content* yield* Variety (kg/ha) matter (mg/g dry wt) (kg/ha) ‘NCPUR06-020’ 49,656 30 3.83 58 ‘Stokes Purple’ 43,976 29 1.46 19 *Differences between total yield, anthocyanin content and anthocyanin yield are highly significant by ANOVA at p = 0.05

TABLE 2 Characteristics of ‘NCPUR06-020’ compared to the purple- fleshed sweetpotato varieties ‘Stokes Purple’ and ‘Okinawa', and the orange-fleshed variety ‘Covington'. ‘NCPU106- ‘Stokes Characteristic 020’ Purple’ ‘Okinawa’ ‘Covington’ Skin color dark purple dark purple white to light to (RHS N83A (RHS N80A light tan medium rose to N86A to N81B) (RHS 33D to 34D) Skin texture moderately moderately moderately smooth- flaky flaky smooth skinned Flesh color dark purple, purple, avg purple/ orange- avg intensity intensity 2.7 cream fleshed 3.5 (RHS (RHS N80A (RHS 28B N83A to to N81B) to 28C), N86A) Flesh uniformity uniform uniform not uniform uniform Yield (low, moderate moderate very low high moderate, high) Dry matter data 30% 29% 26% 20% Pest/disease resistance: Fusarium wilt moderately moderately susceptible resistant resistant resistant Streptomyces soil susceptible susceptible susceptible resistant rot Southern root moderately resistant susceptible resistant knot nematodes susceptible Maturity late late late medium Root shapes round-elliptic long-elliptic fusiform, blocky to blocky to blocky irregular Length/diameter 2.5 3.4 NA 2.5 ratio Sprout production very good very good poor good Type of vine/ dense dense moderate dense plant canopy (dense, etc) Transplant sur- very good very good good very good vival (poor, good, excellent?) Storability (poor, good good fair very good good, etc) Consumer Quality bitter, not good to fair good to very good (backing quality, palatable fair flavor) Average Antho- 3.8 1.6 NA none cyanin content (mg/g dry wt) Average % 20%:80% 78%:12% NA none Peonidin: Cyanidin Ratio 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Ipomoea batatas industrial sweetpotato plant named ‘NCPUR06-020’, substantially as illustrated and described herein. 